The Score

A snappy little heist movie with acting performances both deft and brilliant

It's a summit meeting between three brilliant leading men from three generations with three striking on-screen personas.

There's more suspense in watching Brando, who has trouble with physical exertion, get on and off a bar stool than the robbery itself. Still, Brando -- his eyes alive with mischief --is the life of the movie.

A jazzy, immensely absorbing thriller.

There are explosions, double-crosses and chase sequences, but it just doesn't add up to edge-of-your-seat tension.

This one's slightly better than average these days, which means slightly diverting.

I don't know how much The Score cost, but it's pretty close to worthless.

Good movie, good story, great cast! I like well acted and thought out heist movies. They are so much better than the Oceans 11 type of movie.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

The superb cast and production value elevate the otherwise average screenplay. Nonetheless it's a fun journey along to its predictable end.

Getting by mainly on its cast and occasionally fizzy energy, Frank Oz's "The Score" is a light-weight caper that mildly appeals, though it never stands out. Revolving around a safe-cracker who is roped in to doing one last heist before he retires, the film has a few good twists and turns but is, ultimately, nothing too far above an average viewing experience. Be it a gunfighter, gangster, or thief, the tale of the career criminal making one last score before hanging it all up is a recognizable narrative route. "The Score" offers nothing out of the ordinary in terms of that route, but it is solidly imagined. Full of the requisite twists and backstabbings, the plot is compelling if nothing too original. Oz's cast is the film's strongest ingredient with Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, and Marlon Brando filling the marquee. All are in good form for their various career stages and help to drive the film's energy. Oz keeps things light, but ensures that enough danger and peril drive the well-assembled production. "The Score" is a completely watchable and well-cast piece of work. It is just not apt to stick in anybody's memory too long after seeing it. Still, it is a perfectly competent heist drama with a respectable amount of low-key charms.

Ah quel dommage ! car avec 20 ou 30 mn de moins (environ), il y avait sans doute moyen de faire un truc vraiment sympathique… mais en l’état, The score pâtit de sa mollesse générale et d’inutiles bavardages (et puis qu’est-ce que Brando est venu faire là, mystère ?!…). Il reste tout de même la dernière demi-heure bien réalisée avec le rebondissement classique mais efficace. De Niro et Norton n’assurent que le minimum syndical pour leur part, c’est dire si tout cela est plutôt léger et un peu trop pourrave. Et le score s’en ressent au final.